i.f„-rnraba£:US 




Hn ]£Gi?ptian Scarabaeue 

OR 

"H %CQcni> of tbe IRilc" 



BY 
SALIM Y. ALKAZIN 

AND 

Adelbert Clark 



% ^ 



PUBLISHED BY E. G, BAKEf 
LACONIA. N, H. 



•uiBRARY or GONGrttSS 
two Copies rieceivcu 

JUN 13 i^^^ 

Gouvrijfrii ctury 

ULASS CU XAfc No: 

COPY B. 



COPYRIGHT 
1905 
ADELBERT CLARK. 



The E§:yptian Scarabaeos. 



^^ HE first word that forces its way through a 
^^' visitor's moutli stauding iu front of an 
Egyptian rnin, no matter how small or 
insioniticant it might be, is the word "Grand," and 
then follows "Magnificent.'' lint it is not this feel- 
ing that roots your feet to the spot, and wide opens 
your eyes and fixes your sight, as if attracted by an 
overwhelming magnetic power, and soars up with 
your senses to an unknown world. There is some- 
thing mysterious around the ruins. Probably the 
s}>irits of those wise and knowing priests that still 
hover around the, ruins murmuring dirges or the 
mystic precepts of the old doctrines. 

Thus it is with the small scarabaeus that marks 
the seal of this book, and which is mentioned in the 
leading poem. This scarabaeus was found by a 
wandering Arab during the Spring of 1902. In the 
heart of a poor and lonely tomb on an unknown 
spot of the south-eastern border of the Lybian 
desert. 

The scarab or scarabaeus, is a tropical dung- 
beetle found particularly in Egy])t. The old Egyp- 
tians regarded it as a symbol of the god Kheper and 
as an emblem of the revivication of the body and 
the immortality of the soul. 

The funeral scarabs were put on the fingers or 
heart of the dead, and, in the latter case they were 
covered with powerful names and magical emblems, 
thought to be a protection to the dead. Historical 
scarabs are those that contain some historical text 
or data. Ornamental scarabs were adopted by the 
living and on them were inscribed the name of the 
reigning-king or some national hero, and they were 
used as seals or set in rings. 

As the influence of Egypt extended to the East, 
the Phoenicians borrowed the design and used it. 
Afterwards, it was used by the Greeks and others. 

Sai.im Y. Alkazin. 









m" 



{For TranslafAon see next page.) 



A Songf of the Nik* 



My waters have buried within your sands, O 
fair Egypt, secrets which you have been slow at dis- 
covering. Had it been given me to flow like ink on 
paper, I would disclose them to you one after the 
other. 

I am Egypt! I reflect its riches, its age, its 
mystery, its doctrine and the beauty of its maidens, 
and the might and wisdom of its men. I am great 
Osiris. I am fair Isis. 

Yes! and many an Isis (given as an offering for 
a heavy flood) did my arms fold to my breast of 
whom you were more, worthy. 

If the daily reappearance of the great Ra is not 
a satisfactory proof of the immortality of the soul 
and the revivification of the body, then my annual 
visit must be an undoubted proof. 

S. Y. Al>KAZIN. 



AUTHOR'S NOTE:— Space would not permit the trans- 
lation of the song in verse form, so I have endeavored to 
write it in prose and still retain its musical theme. 



Hn Eg^ptfan Scaraba^us 
or ''B XegenD ot tbc IWlle'' 



Last iiight I woke from out a dream 

For I had wandered far 
Into a strange and ancient land, 

Led by a silver star. 
I dreamt I stood on Soudan's soil, 

High, on a mountain crest; 
A dusky maid with silken curls 

Was leaning on my breast. 

"Where yonder river wends its way 

Through fertile fields below, 
A desert stretched its leafless plain, 

Three thousand years ago. 
No trace of beauty graced the earth 

Save in the Pharaoh's pride; 
He built rich palaces and tombs 

His honored crimes to hide. 

"Green vines and cypress trees grew near 

Within the garden close, 
And rarest lilies rich and sweet 

Were blooming with the rose. 
Within the carven corridors 

Where musk j^erfumed the air. 
Fair statuary graced the walls. 

With hangings rich and rare. 

"Twelve mistresses had walked its halls 

And shared the Pharaoh's bed; 
Twelve mistresses were cast aside 

And numbered with the dead. 
One day a ])riest of Osiris 

Had gained the palace walls; 
I met him in a frightened mood 

Half-crouching in the halls. 

"He caught my arm, 'Queen Semuta, 

'Tis time for thee to fly. 
For Pharaoh brings another bride. 

And thou art doomed to die. 
Hark ! thou canst hear tlie marriage-guests 

Already on the stair.' 
He caught my fainting form and cried, 

'There is no time for pray'r!' 



"Down through a secret way we went 

To 'void the mocking throng; 
Yet in my half-unconscious state 

I heard the Pharaoh's song. 
I paused within the arbor's shade 

And brushed aside a tear. 
The good priest fanned my aching brow 

And tried to soothe my fear. 

"The roses hinted as we passed 

With their delicious breath, 
The utter lonliness before; 

The gloomy wings of Death. 
I thought of loved-ones far away 

Beyond the barren i)lain ; 
I thought of him, of whom I loved, 

But ne'er could see again. 

" 'Dear child, Osiris will not leave 

You to a cruel fate, 
But he will lead your feeble feet 

Close to the open Gate. 
An alternative waits for thee 

But it is cast in gloom. 
One, is the desert for escape. 

The other is the tomb.' 

"And so I chose the desert plain 

And journeyed long and far; 
My guide by day — the rising sun ; 

By night — the evening star. 
But thirst and hunger brought me low, 

Though hunger was the least. 
For in my wild deliriums 

I dreamt of many a feast. 

"I saw rich gardens sweet with flow'rs. 

And vainly did I call ; 
I heard the babbling of a brook, 

I saw the fountain's fall. 
And even in my dreams I plead, 

'Osiris hear my cry; 
One goblet of that sparkling rill; 

Just one, before I die!' 



"But mercy was not meant for me, 

And so my life swept on, 
Into a fairer, brijy liter realm — 

In Paradise 'twas born. 
But from my bed, a river sprang 

And laughing danced along, 
With snowy ripples on its breast; 

Its shallows full of song. 

"It grew and grew, a mighty stream 

Beneath the azure skies. 
And in this ancient land, it proved 

A blessing in disguise. 
This scarabaeus you wore, dear friend. 

Was placed upon my breast. 
And shows Osiris can give 

The weary, peace and rest. 

"It shows a bit of history 

Of a once noble race. 
But like a 'brand' it marks the shame 

Upon its Pharaoh's face. 
And could your eye decipher it, 

(Though 'tis not worth the while), 
You'd find half-hidden in the clay, 

This legend of the Nile." 




Ois, the PearL 



Once, 'twas said that Cleopatra 

Had a rival fair as she. 
Dwelling in a rose-wreathed palace 

Close beside the surging sea. 
Never had the dainty seashells 

Strewn upon Egyptian shore, 
Or the Pharaoh's fragrant lotus 

Such a marvelous beauty bore. 

From the sea, rare pearls were given, 

(Treasures from deep mines afar,) 
And they gleamed upon her bosom 

Like the twinkling of a star. 
Sweet rose-blossoms, stately lilies, 

Opened for her by the way; 
Princely lovers, sons of Egypt, 

Sought to woo her night and day. 

]3ut a magic pow'r enchanted 

Held her in a drowsy spell. 
While the sea's white foaming billows 

Seemed to sound her funeral knell. 
All day long a voice was calling, 

"Ois, come and 'bide with me; 
Thou shall be the queen of Pearlland; 

Thou shall rule the mighty sea! 

"There's a city built of coral ; 

Pearl shall be thy judgment throne, 
And the submarines shall worship. 

And shall serve but thee alone. 
Nevermore shall pain or sorrow 

Touch thee with its frightful wing. 
Wilt thou fill my heart with glory ?" 

Said the strange but handsome king. 

'•No!" cried Ois, stepping backward. 

Lest the waves her form embrace, 
"Thou mayst be the king of Pearlland, 

But a mask is on thy face I 
Mine, shall be the throne of Egypt ! 

Mine, shall be a Pharaoh's love! 
Mine, shall be a star of beauty, 

Like the stars that shine above!" 



Once again the hand of magic 

Wove its fine and subtle spell ; 
Once again, the seething billows 

Bang more loud her funeral knell, 
While a hand and voice persuading 

Caught and bound Love's snowy wings, 
So once more the maid was captured 

By the bright and dazzling things. 

"Foolish child," said Cleopatra, 

"Why not wear his signet ring? 
He, the ruler of the ocean; 

He, the young and handsome king! 
He would give thee priceless jewels; 

Countless strings of milky i)earls; 
He would deck thee with their beauty; 

They would don thy silken curls." 

Charmed and dazed with all the s])lendor, 

Woven by a king and queen, 
Ois did not see the serpent 

Just before her, dark and green. 
Fearlessly with Love she ventured 

To the angry wave's embrace; 
Only once, she paused a moment, 

As the salt spray touched her face. 

But 'twas said when Cleopatra 

Gazed upon the spotless bier, 
At the waxen lily, Ois, 

In her eyes there gleamed a tear. 
And 'twas said that half her beauty 

Melted as she stood that hour. 
Grazing at the broken lily, 

That was once a perfect flower. 



A Legend of the Blue Lotus. 



One morniDg as the sunbeams kissed 

The sands on Pharaoh's shore, 
The pale blue lotus blossomed forth 

As in the days of yore. 
Sweet strains of music filled my ears 

As if from worlds afar, 
Beyond the .Sflory of the sun ; 

Beyond the evening star. 

It might have been I dreamt it all; 

But lo ! I saw her there 
In clinging robes of pale blue gauze; 

A form divinely fair. 
Her slender arms and shoulders bare 

Were like the lotus sweet; 
And like rare jewels of the past, 

Her tiny sandaled feet. 

A wealth of midnight silken curls 

Caressed her dusky cheek; 
Her lips were like a budding rose 

That wild-bees love to seek. 
But when again I looked to see 

The lovely spirit there, 
I only saw upon the tide, 

A lotus pure and fair. 

When morning dawned again, I called 

My young guide to my side. 
And pointed to the shadowy form 

Out on the sluggish tide. 
He fell upon the sand and cried, 

" 'Tis Ulmana, the queen. 
She lives within the lotus-buds. 

Among the rushes green. 

"Two thousand years ago," he said, 

"They laid her down to rest; 
One spotless flow'r white as snow 

Was lain upon her breast. 
They placed her in a granite tomb. 

Where sweet and soft and low. 
The river floweth to the sea — 

Two thousand years ago. 



"Since then, the river changed its court 

Until it swex)t away, 
The costly sepulcher of stone. 

Just at the dawn of day. 
But from the spot a lotus sprang 

In i)alest shades of blue. 
And in its depths of lovliness, • 

The queen was born anew." 

And still when morning lifts its veil 

O'er Pharaoh's shining shore, 
And lotus blossoms rich and rare 

Spreads beauty all aglore, 
The spirit of the Pharaoh's bride 

Is ever lingering there; 
She wears a star upon her breast, 

A lotus in her hair. 



Queen Ulmana's Turquoise* 

Like a bit of the glory of heaven, 

Or a leaf of the violet's blue 
When the morning has lent her bright jewels. 

Of the purest crystalline dew. 
Is the beautiful breastplate of turquoise 

That was worn by Ulmana, the queen. 
As she road through the streets of the city 

In her chariot of gold and green. 

Long ago in the dust of the ages. 

The queen to her fair "god" went 
In a chariot of pearl and white lilies. 

When the reign of her earth-life was si)ent. 
But still, in a palace at Cairo, 

Her turquoise reflects back the sky. 
And with these and the marks of her scar abacus, 

Her greatness will never die I 



A Story of the Sphinx. 



Last uight I gazed on the dusky Sphinx 

And the Pyramids tow'ring high ; 
I heard the song of the nightingale, 

And the night-winds mournful sigh. 
The crescent moon through the dusky haze 

Was a scarlet bow of tire, 
And I strolled out from my snowy tent. 

As it mounted high'r and high'r. 

But soon it changed to a somber gold 

And spread forth a veil of light. 
But the Sphinx spread out a jet-black veil, 

Black as the darkest night. 
Then soon, as if, by some magic si)ell. 

The nightingale hushed its song, 
And at the foot of the ancient "god" 

I saw a gathering throng. 

Sweet strains of music — perfume of fiow'rs 

Were borne on the wings of night. 
And led me into a blackest shade, 

And filled me with strange delight. 
I saw the pride and pomp of years; 

Rich gems and rare cloths of gold; 
And sweetest flowers the land could yield 

Were brought and strewn fold on fold. 

A handsome queen on a marble throne 

Was seated, and quite at ease. 
She wore a crown of coral and pearls 

That came from the distant seas. 
Her snowy gown was of rarest silk 

And was held by milky pearls. 
And o'er lier brow was a brilliant star, 

Agleam, in her raven curls. 

I stood apart from the mighty throng. 

That ever seemed to be 
Surging about for a better view, 

Like waves of the briny sea. 
I was charmed by the volts of splendor 

From the things I'd seen and heard, 
'Till my heart was filled with raptured bliss 

And gay as the fleetest bird. 



But ah, alas! for the scene soon changed; 

The musical theme grew still. 
The queen arose from the judgment-seat 

With a cold and irony will. 
"Where are the people that dared to bow 

Save at the foot of he ?" 
(Pointing up to the great stone face 

Gazing out in majesty.) 

Four men arose from the mighty throng, 

And the light in their jet-black eyes, 
Were brighter far, than the silver stars 

That blaze in the vaulted skies. 
"Ye dogs," she cried with a serpent's hiss, 

"The asp shall mete out thy Death." 
She stepped forward to a golden urn, — 

They waited with bated breath. 

She quietly raised the golden lid. 

Then horrors, of horror came 
The poisonous reptiles of dark-green hue. 

With eyes of the rubies flame. 
With lightning speed they mounted the steps 

And sprang at the frightened queen. 
And buried their fangs in her snowy breast-- 

I trembled to hear her scream. 



Women fell and fainted nigh; 
The rumbling of thunder crashed and rolled; 

Lightning flashed through the cloudless sky 
The queen 'rose in pain and madness, and 

Gasi)ed for a breath of air ; 
She uttered forth a piercing scream, and 

Fell dead on the judgment-stair. 

Once more I stood in the golden ray 

Of the crescent moon above; 
Once more I heard the nightingale's song 

And it seemed to sing of love. 
The song that it seemed to sing that night 

Was the endless song of Love. 
It seemed to ring through the starry space. 

From the heavenlv realms above! 



And still, when I look at the Pyramids 

As they point up toward the sky, 
And the stone face of the dusky Sphinx, 

My soul would refrain to cry, 
For the world is fair, and God made it 

Out of chaos, mist and gloom, 
And out of it, He created us, 

And made every flower to bloom ! 



The Egfyptian Violets. 



Not far from the mines where the turquoise 

Are found in the earth below, 
'Mid the mosses that crown the wildwood, 

The fairest violets grow. 
A legend is told by the natives 

Of how in the days gone by, 
A maid left the queen's marble palace. 

In the vale to live or die. 

She wore on her bosom a lotus, 

Fresh frt)m the breast of the Nile, 
That seemed to look up to her beauty, 

And say with a gentle smile, 
"Where are you going sweet Seba?" 

But she never answered a word. 
As she journeyed on through the valley. 

As swift as a frightened bird. 

She died — and out from her beauty, 

A bed of rich violets grew; 
And deep in the earth beneath her 

The turquoise had found its blue. 
And forever, and ever and ever. 

The violets will cast their bloom. 
To veil from the land of mysteries, 

The darkness of Death and gloom ! 



JUN 13 19C5 



